From Saturday 23 November to Tuesday 24 December, the Great Central Railway will be running their annual Santa Express trains along their 8-mile line from Loughborough Central to Leicester North.

Santa Claus and his helpers will be on the steam-hauled train as the express makes its way through the wintery Leicestershire countryside, which this year makes a special stop on Swithland Viaduct so passengers can enjoy the wintery scenery from across the viaduct over the reservoir.

Each and every family will receive cheer and tidings of good joy from Father Christmas as he makes his way along the train, giving every child a present, provided they are not on the naughty list.

Well-behaved children will receive a Great Central Railway Christmas Activity Pack, and will be given a festive drink and delicacies on the train, plus a free festive Christmas bag brimming with festive goodies and cheer which they can take home.

Christmas isn’t just for kids, as adults haven’t been overlooked; they’ll be indulged with mince pies and Irish cream liqueur, complemented by a comprehensive at-seat bar service to ensure a stylish celebration.

The Great Central are also offering special upgrades as part of their Santa Express experiences this year. This features personalised Santa Express souvenirs and sumptuous hot chocolates and delectable chocolate treats.

For those families wanting to make this Christmas truly memorable, the Great Central Railway is offering the chance for families or groups to book their own private carriage.

This unique experience will give parents and family relatives the chance to document this truly special and magical experience as children share a personal meeting with Santa Claus while talking about their Christmas wishes and discussing what’s on their Christmas list.

These tickets do sell out quick as it’s one of Leicestershire’s top family Christmas attractions. Families are encouraged to book early to prevent being left out.

This isn’t the only part of the former Great Central Railway offering special Christmas services this festive season as the Great Central Railways Nottingham Railway is also running Christmas trains for the first time since 2019.